The recent earthquakes in Venezuela, which caused widespread structural damage and left thousands affected, have once again highlighted the devastating impact seismic events can have on buildings and infrastructure. While earthquakes themselves cannot be prevented, engineers continue to develop new materials, structural systems and vibration-control technologies designed to … [Read more...] about Engineering safer buildings: The latest advances in earthquake-resistant design
Construction
Computer model could enable bridges and buildings that use less material
Researchers at MIT have developed an approach for generating more buildable structures, bridging the gap between optimised design and real-world construction. A technique called topology optimisation can design structures that reduce the amount of material used, in some cases by as much as 90 per cent, which would represent a multi-gigatonne reduction in construction-related … [Read more...] about Computer model could enable bridges and buildings that use less material
A simple calculation could change the way we use misfit wood
Urging industry to make better use of wood that’s wasted or burned for energy, researchers have released the first structural tests of non-straight, forked and double-curved roundwood logs used as columns. In his mission to normalise the use of ‘misfit wood’, Aalto University architect and researcher Jaakko Torvinen (pictured above) has shown how standard, business-as-usual … [Read more...] about A simple calculation could change the way we use misfit wood
International project targets future coastal defence standards
As rising seas and extreme weather place growing pressure on coastlines worldwide, researchers at the University of East London (UEL) are launching an international project to rethink how coastal communities are protected. The project aims to help shape future international engineering guidance for coastal infrastructure as climate change increases the risk of storm surges, … [Read more...] about International project targets future coastal defence standards
Inaugural Future Timber Design Awards winners revealed
Forest Industries Ireland (FII) has announced the University of Galway winners of the Future Timber Design Awards ─ a new initiative supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The awards were developed by FII to promote sustainable and innovative timber construction and design by bridging academic learning with real-life application for undergraduate … [Read more...] about Inaugural Future Timber Design Awards winners revealed